No new major neonic restrictions, Health Canada says

No new major neonic restrictions, Health Canada says

There will be no new significant restrictions on the use of neonic insecticides other than ones announced last year, Health Canada said April 10 in its final decision on its review of clothianidin, imidacloprid and and thiamethoxam.

There will be no new significant restrictions on the use of neonic insecticides other than ones announced last year, Health Canada said April 10 in its final decision on its review of clothianidin, imidacloprid and and thiamethoxam.

The department said it will proceed with cancelling some uses of insecticides and setting rules on the timing of application as proposed in 2017 and 2018. However allowing them to treat crop seeds and greenhouse vegetables “is not expected to pose unacceptable risks to bees and other pollinators.”

The re-evaluations of the three products considered hundreds of scientific studies, from both manufacturers and published literature. Cancellations and new restrictions will be implemented over a two- to three-year period.

The department is still evaluating the potential risks to aquatic insects from the use of neonics. It said “Current research shows that these pesticides are detected frequently in waterbodies at levels that could be harmful to certain aquatic organisms. The Department expects to report on its findings at the end of 2019.”

In 2014, Health Canada implemented risk mitigation measures to help protect bees and other pollinators from exposure to neonicotinoid-contaminated dust that occurs from planting treated seeds. With these risk mitigation measures in place, the number of bee incidents in 2014, 2015 and 2016 were 70-80% lower than in 2013.

There has a continued decline in the number of incidents reported during planting in 2017 and 2018 and “Other factors (e.g., favourable weather conditions) might have contributed to the reduction in bee incidents, including deaths.”

As for population declines in pollinators, “no single factor has been identified as the cause,” the department said in 2018. “The available science suggests that multiple factors acting in combination may be at play, including loss of habitat and food sources, diseases, viruses and pests, and pesticide exposure.” Health Canada is examining the information collected in an attempt to answer these questions.”

Thiamethoxam will be phased out for foliar and soil applications to ornamental crops that will result in pollinator exposure as well as on berry crops, cucurbit crops and fruiting vegetables and orchard trees. Foliar application to legumes, outdoor fruiting vegetables, and berry crops would no longer be permitted before or during bloom.